Unit Five: Lab Questions

The Ecotourism Game <- your first lab link

Read the article and when you've finished, make your choice between "Let's try ecotourism" or "No, let's not get into tourism" and complete the activity. Follow through the Ecotourism Game and make decisions by clicking on the appropriate link. When you've finished, go back to the start of the game and go through again using some different choices to see how your choices influence what is happening.

1. What is the beginning situation in your community?

You need this land for crops, but you are also worried about losing the rest of the forest.

2. What are some of the factors that a community might consider when deciding to start an ecotourism business?

Who will be the leader of it. Who wil have what job. You also need to talk about how much money this is going to cost for you to start this business.

3. What are the options for managing an ecotourism project? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

4. What challenges do you face in running the ecotourism business?

5. Why might some individuals oppose ecotourism or its expansion?

6. If you were managing the ecotourism project, how would you split the profits that it is making? What are the advantages and disadvantages of your plan?

7. Imagine that you are in charge of an ecotourism project in your hometown or another area that you are familiar with (such as a nearby state park, etc.). What would the project look like? What activities and accommodations would you provide? What impact would the project have on the larger community?

8. Is ecotourism a good choice for communities? Why or why not?